Police: Student claims to have bomb in backpack

Bus evacuated to check for bomb

Investigators said a student claimed to have a bomb in his backpack while on board a school bus in Edgewater Monday morning.

Police and members of the bomb squad responded to the area of Sabal Palm and Roberts Road shortly after 8 a.m. when the bus driver called in the alert.

A boy, believed to be a middle school student on the way to New Smyrna Beach Middle, said something about a bomb, but when police and others arrived he recanted, officials said.

The bus was evacuated, checked and no explosive device was found.

"At our request, the Volusia County Sheriff's Bomb Squad came and inspected the backpack. There were no explosive devices found in the backpack," said Edgewater Sgt. Joseph Mahoney.

Another bus was brought in to take the children on to school.

The 14-year-old student was arrested. He is charged with a felony and because of the seriousness of the threat, school officials will recommend he be expelled.

The boy's mother had no comment as she left the police station, while her son was questioned. She was clearly very distraught and investigators said could offer no explanation for her son's alleged comment.

Police said the boy has never been in trouble before and they will wait to see what the state attorney says about prosecuting him.

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